Glutathione (GSH) is a compound synthesized from cysteine. Like cysteine, glutathione contains the crucial thiol (-SH) group that makes it an effective antioxidant. There are virtually no living organisms on this planet-animal or plant whose cells don't contain some glutathione. Scientists have speculated that glutathione was essential to the very development of life on earth. Glutathione has many roles; in none does it act alone. It is a coenzyme in various enzymatic reactions. The most important of these are redox reactions, in which the thiol grouping on the cysteine portion of cell membranes protects against peroxidation; and conjugation reactions, in which glutathione binds with toxic chemicals in order to detoxify them. GSH is known as a substrate in both conjugation reactions and reduction reactions, catalyzed by glutathione S-transferase enzymes in the bacterial cytosol.

This compound belongs to the class of chemical entities known as peptides. These are compounds containing an amide derived from two or more amino carboxylic acid molecules (the same or different) by formation of a covalent bond from the carbonyl carbon of one to the nitrogen atom of another.

Serine hydrolase involved in the detoxification of formaldehyde. Hydrolyzes S-formylglutathione to glutathione and formate. Shows also esterase activity against alpha-naphthyl acetate, lactoylglutathione, palmitoyl-CoA and several pNP-esters of short chain fatty acids

Reactions

Serine hydrolase involved in the detoxification of formaldehyde. Hydrolyzes S-formylglutathione to glutathione and formate. Shows also esterase activity against two pNP-esters (pNP- acetate and pNP-propionate), alpha-naphthyl acetate and lactoylglutathione

Involved in disulfide bond formation. DsbG and DsbC are part of a periplasmic reducing system that controls the level of cysteine sulfenylation, and provides reducing equivalents to rescue oxidatively damaged secreted proteins such as ErfK, YbiS and YnhG. Probably also functions as a disulfide isomerase with a narrower substrate specificity than DsbC. DsbG is maintained in a reduced state by DsbD. Displays chaperone activity in both redox states in vitro

Acts as a disulfide isomerase, interacting with incorrectly folded proteins to correct non-native disulfide bonds. DsbG and DsbC are part of a periplasmic reducing system that controls the level of cysteine sulfenylation, and provides reducing equivalents to rescue oxidatively damaged secreted proteins. Acts by transferring its disulfide bond to other proteins and is reduced in the process. DsbC is reoxidized by DsbD

The disulfide bond functions as an electron carrier in the glutathione-dependent synthesis of deoxyribonucleotides by the enzyme ribonucleotide reductase. In addition, it is also involved in reducing some disulfides in a coupled system with glutathione reductase

The disulfide bond functions as an electron carrier in the glutathione-dependent synthesis of deoxyribonucleotides by the enzyme ribonucleotide reductase. In addition, it is also involved in reducing some disulfides in a coupled system with glutathione reductase

Proton-dependent permease that transports di- and tripeptides. Has a clear preference for dipeptides and tripeptides composed of L-amino acids, and discriminates dipeptides on the basis of the position of charges within the substrate

Proton-dependent permease that transports di- and tripeptides as well as structurally related peptidomimetics such as aminocephalosporins into the cell. Has a clear preference for dipeptides and tripeptides composed of L-amino acids, and discriminates dipeptides on the basis of the position of charges within the substrate